Tooth Loss May Indicate Malnutrition
Older adults with 10 teeth to 19 teeth are at increased risk for malnutrition compared with those who have 20 or more teeth, according to a new study out of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Older adults with 10 teeth to 19 teeth are at increased risk for malnutrition compared with those who have 20 or more teeth, according to a new study out of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Published in the Journal of Aging Research and Clinical Practice, the study, “Dentition and Malnutrition Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults,” builds off past research exploring the associations between missing teeth and nutritional status.
In phase 1 of the most recent mixed-methods study, researchers analyzed the health records of 107 community-dwelling older adults who were treated from 2015 to 2016 at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. The results showed more than 25% of this patient cohort had or were at risk for malnutrition. Patients who had malnutrition experienced increased weight loss, consumed fewer calories, and more frequently reported dementia/depression and severe illnesses than those with a normal nutritional status, according to the study.
The study authors concluded that dental settings are well-positioned to provide nutritional status screenings and, for those deemed at risk, referrals for nutritional counseling and programs such as Meals on Wheels
From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. January 2019;17(1):10.
